But ordering ceremonial shovels for a ground breaking is more than a bit premature.

Wagenbrenner Development got the juices going last year when it approached the public-sector developer and landlord of the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

“We just see an opportunity,” Wagenbrenner developer Michael Amicon told me of the proposal in conjunction with the Columbus-based Rockbridge hotel investment firm. “It’s one of the best pieces of (undeveloped) real estate in the downtown.”

The Wagenbrenner/Rockbridge response to the authority’s request is to put an apartment project with about 108 units on the wedge-shaped parcel along the north edge of Goodale, immediately west of the planned parking garage.

It also envisions a full-service hotel at the southeast quadrant of High and Goodale.

The Union Place project designed by national DLR Group architectural firm also has envisions ground-floor retail.

Other development groups also submitted proposals.

Columbus developers Kaufman Development, Continental Real Estate Cos. and Daimler Group also responded to the request for proposal that calls for a full-service hotel with 150 to 200 guest rooms. They have the NBBJ design firm as their architectural firm.

Pizzuti Cos. splits the difference with a plan for 300 to 350 hotel rooms and up to 25,000 square feet of conference space in the first phase.

A fourth, limited-service property was planned by Indiana-based White Lodging, which proposed a project with up to 300 guest rooms.